Czech Republic: Ballistic Missile Defence

Dai Davies: To ask the Prime Minister what matters concerning the deployment of missile defence systems he discussed with his Czech counterpart on 13 June.

Tony Blair: I refer the hon. Member to the press conference I held with Prime Minister Topolanek on 13 June 2007 (http://www.number-10.gov.uk/output/Page11944.asp). A transcript of this is available on the No. 10 website and a copy has been placed in the Library of the House.

Departments: Visits Abroad

David Amess: To ask the Prime Minister what the cost has been of his overseas visits since 10 May 2007; which countries he has visited; how many  (a) officials,  (b) advisers and  (c) members of his family accompanied him; what the cost was in each case; where he and those who accompanied him stayed during each visit; what the cost was in each case; if he will list those persons he met during each visit; which British Government Departments provided briefing material for his use during each visit; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: Since 1999 the Government have published an annual list of all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing £500 or more during each financial year. Copies of these lists are available in the Library of the House. Information on the number of officials accompanying Ministers on overseas visits is included in the list. All Ministers' travel arrangements are in accordance with the arrangements for official travel set out in chapter 10 of the "Ministerial Code", and the accompanying guidance document, "Travel by Ministers". Information for 2007-08 will be published in the normal way.
	Briefing for my visits is provided by the relevant Government Departments. I meet a wide range of people during my visits, including foreign leaders, details of which can be found on the N0. 10 website.

Fisheries

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many pilot projects have been established by European Union member states following the communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament, Promoting more environmentally-friendly fishing methods: the role of technical conservation measures (COM(2004) 438 final), dated 21 June 2004; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: Since the release of the communication, the UK has developed two discard pilot projects. The first focused on improving selectivity in the north east coast prawn fishery. I have arranged for a copy of the report of this project to be laid in the Library of the House. The second for which the details are still being finalised, will be a project run jointly with the Irish Government, which will look at discarding across a range of fisheries in the Irish Sea.
	Details of pilot projects undertaken by other member states are not available.

Waste Disposal

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what evidence he has examined on whether there has been a causal link between the rate of growth of gross domestic product and the rate of growth of  (a) municipal waste and  (b) business waste in the UK.

Ben Bradshaw: The most recent statistics(1) show that since 2000, waste (business and municipal) has grown significantly less than the UK's gross domestic product (GDP). This equates to average growth in waste of less than 0.5 per cent. per year, over the last five years. The average municipal waste growth up to the millennium was around 3.5 per cent. per year, indicating a significant step change in the UK's waste management. Data for 2006-07, expected in autumn 2007, will provide further useful evidence on whether the trends of recent years have been sustained.
	Between 1998-99 and 2002-03, the amount of waste produced by businesses in England fell from 69 million tonnes to 68 million tonnes per year(2), while GDP increased by about 10 per cent. In this period, industrial waste fell by 6 per cent. (2.5 million tonnes), declining faster than industrial gross value added (GVA)(3), which fell by 3.5 per cent. Commercial waste increased by 6 per cent. (1.7 million tonnes), compared to the 29 per cent. increase in commercial GVA. These changes mainly reflect increased employment in the service sectors and a decrease in industrial activity, along with increasing reliance on imports.
	The overall aim of waste prevention is to decouple waste growth from increases in GDP. The recently published Waste Strategy 2007 renews the Government's commitment to breaking the link between economic growth and waste growth, by placing more emphasis on waste prevention and re-use.
	(1) Municipal Waste Statistics 2005-06.
	(2) Environment Agency Survey of Commercial and Industrial Waste 2002-03.
	(3) Gross value added (GVA) measures the contribution to the economy of each individual producer, industry or sector. The GVA generated by any unit engaged in production activity can be calculated as the residual of the units' total output less intermediate consumption (that is, goods and services used up in the process of producing the output), or as the sum of the factor incomes generated by the production process.

Waste Management

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what guidance his Department has given to  (a) manufacturers and  (b) commercial enterprises on methods by which they can reduce their waste arisings.

Ben Bradshaw: DEFRA's Business Resource Efficiency and Waste (BREW) Programme has been established to provide targeted guidance and support to businesses to improve their resource efficiency and to minimise the levels of waste that are unnecessarily sent to landfill. For example, the BREW Programme funds the National Industrial Symbiosis Programme (NISP). NISP matches one operator's waste with another's raw material needs. In the first two years of its operation, in the region of 1.7 million tonnes of material have been diverted from landfill, with £70 million of cost savings.
	An early assessment of selected BREW activities suggests that the programme has made a good start in returning landfill tax receipts to businesses and helping them improve their resource efficiency. Around £4 has been saved by business for each £1 of BREW-funded advice and support. There were also reductions in water use, waste sent to landfill and the amounts of raw materials used by businesses. Many of the benefits will be seen beyond 2005-06, and work is currently under way to assess the impact of programme spending in 2006-07. More details about the BREW Programme can be found on the DEFRA website.
	The Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) is also working across a range of industry sectors to reduce waste arisings. For example, WRAP is working with retailers and their supply chains towards its 2006-08 business plan target to secure reductions in packaging waste of 80,000 tonnes a year. WRAP has specific programmes with the construction and manufacturing sectors.
	My Department has also produced the publication "Saving money by reducing waste", which gives practical guidance on waste minimisation for farmers and growers and is available from the DEFRA website.
	Apart from guidance and support offered by DEFRA, there are also two sets of regulations in place to encourage producers (including retailers) to minimise, recycle and recover packaging and reduce packaging waste. We have asked the Advisory Committee on Packaging to work with industry to find further solutions to the challenge of minimising packaging, and recommend ways of encouraging businesses to further reduce the amount of packaging they use.
	The Food Industry Sustainability Strategy (FISS), which was published in April 2006, also challenged the food manufacturing sector to reduce its own waste by 15-20 per cent. by 2010. 13 major grocery retailers (representing 92 per cent. of the UK grocery sector) have signed up to a voluntary agreement, the 'Courtauld Commitment', and are working with WRAP to:
	(i) design out packaging waste growth by 2008;
	(ii) deliver absolute reductions in packaging waste by March 2010; and
	(iii) identify ways to tackle the problem of food waste.

Learning Disability

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what the  (a) procedures and  (b) schedule for all forms of consideration and agreement of the Legislative Competence Order on Additional Learning Needs he is seeking to establish by both Houses of Parliament.

Peter Hain: The Government intend to present all proposed draft Orders in Council to Parliament for pre-legislative scrutiny in all but exceptional circumstances.
	On conclusion of pre-legislative scrutiny, the Welsh Assembly Government, in consultation with the UK Government will consider the recommendations made by Parliament and prepare a draft Order in Council.
	The draft Order in Council will then be formally laid before Parliament and will be subject to affirmative resolution by both Houses. If approved by Parliament the Order in Council will be submitted to Her Majesty for approval.
	The Government envisage a similar procedure for proposed draft Orders in Council that are put forward by Assembly committees or backbench Members.
	The Government expect the proposed draft Order in Council on Additional Learning Needs to follow the procedure set out before.

Legislation

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will bring forward proposals to provide for all proposed legislative competence orders laid before the National Assembly for Wales to be referred automatically to the Welsh Affairs Committee and an appropriate committee in the House of Lords for pre-legislative scrutiny.

Peter Hain: The Government gave assurances about pre-legislative scrutiny for proposed Orders in Council during the passage of the Government of Wales Bill, 24 January 2006,  Official Report, column 1329. Both the House of Commons Welsh Affairs Select Committee and the House of Lords Constitution Committee have announced that they will conduct pre-legislative scrutiny of proposed draft orders in Council and the Government very much welcomes this approach.

Alcoholic Drinks: Young People

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many  (a) off sale outlets and  (b) licensed premises were prosecuted for serving alcohol to individuals under the age of 18 years old in Northern Ireland in each of the last three years.

Maria Eagle: The following table gives the number of prosecutions and convictions for the offences of 'selling intoxicating liquor to a minor' and 'permitting minor to consume alcohol on licensed premises' For the former, it is not possible to identify separately those proceedings brought against off sale outlets and licensed premises.
	Data cover the calendar years 2003 to 2005 and are collated on the principal offence rule; thus only the most serious offence with which an offender is charged is included.
	
		
			  Number of prosecutions and convictions for the offences of 'selling intoxicating liquor to a minor' and 'permitting minor to consume alcohol on licensed premises' 2003-05 
			   Selling intoxicating liquor to a minor  Permitting minor to consume alcohol on licensed premises 
			   Prosecutions  Convictions  Prosecutions  Convictions 
			 2003 5 3 0 0 
			 2004 7 2 0 0 
			 2005 8 3 5 0

Departments: Official Residences

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the official ministerial residences allocated to Ministers in his Department; and what the total annual cost is of running each.

Peter Hain: When in NI I stay at Hillsborough castle. As well as providing overnight accommodation for me, the facilities at Hillsborough castle are also used to provide official hospitality and overnight accommodation for members of the Royal Family, visiting dignitaries and diplomats. Other activities at the castle include departmental meetings, the Annual Garden Party and Citizenship Ceremonies. In addition to its use by the Northern Ireland Office and other Government Departments, charities and local community groups can request to use the facilities, generally for fund raising purposes, and the castle and grounds are open at certain times of the year for guided tours.
	The costs associated with my overnight accommodation at Hillsborough castle cannot be separated from the overall cost. The cost of running Hillsborough castle for the 2005-06 financial year was £4,948,666.27. As custodians of this listed building the NIO takes seriously the need to preserve, maintain and refurbish the fabric of the building. This cost includes the maintenance of the buildings and grounds, and the security of the castle, the grounds, and that of Ministers, officials and visitors while present at the castle. It also includes the cost of catering, hospitality and administration. £3,165,938.56 is included in this amount in respect of cost of capital and depreciation.

Freedom of Information

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many Freedom of Information requests have been received by each Northern Ireland Office  (a) Department or  (b) agency since the Freedom of Information Act 2000 came into force; and how many of those requests were (i) agreed and (ii) denied.

Paul Goggins: An administrative error meant that the answer to this question was not tabled prior to restoration. Had it not been missed, the answer would have indicated that the response rates for the NI Departments are as listed in the table.
	This, however, would now be a matter for the Northern Ireland administration.
	The information provided covers the period from 1 January 2005 as although the Freedom of Information Act received Royal Assent in 2000 it only came into force from 1 January 2005.
	
		
			  Department  Requests received— 1 January 2005 to 30 September 2006( 1)  Number of resolvable requests( 2)  Number granted in full  Number granted in part  Number withheld in full 
			 Agriculture and Rural Development 393 361 241 54 66 
			 Culture, Arts and Leisure(3) 1,013 817 771 34 12 
			 Education 272 231 193 25 13 
			 Employment and Learning 183 163 131 23 9 
			 Enterprise, Trade and Investment 161 133 95 21 17 
			 Finance and Personnel 655 622 436 99 87 
			 Health, Social Services and Public Safety 247 218 174 22 22 
			 Environment 1,700 1,615 1,152 344 119 
			 Regional Development 646 637 583 23 31 
			 Social Development 295 261 213 29 19 
			 Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister 157 139 124 13 2 
			 (1) Figures include requests made under the Environmental Information Regulations 2004. (2) Excludes requests on hold or lapsed, where information is not held or where the request was outstanding at time of reporting. (3) DCAL figures includes requests made to the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland. 
		
	
	The Department for Constitutional Affairs published quarterly reports for Whitehall Department; statistics for the Northern Ireland Office are included in these. Figures for the first quarter of 2007 (1 January to 31 March) will be published in due course.
	The following table covers figures relating to the performance of the Northern Ireland Office. The information supplied in relation to the Northern Ireland Office does not include information on the agencies. The agencies are not required to monitor statistics relating to Freedom of Information requests.
	
		
			  Department  Requests received— 1 January 2005 to 31 December 2006( 1)  Number of resolvable requests( 2)  Number granted in full  Number granted in part  Number withheld in full 
			 Northern Ireland Office 400 302 140 58 54 
			 (1) Figures include requests made under the Environmental Information Regulations 2004. (2) Excludes requests on hold or lapsed, where information is not held or where the request was outstanding at time of reporting.

Warship Procurement

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the types and numbers of future warships to be ordered for the Royal Navy.

Des Browne: Over the next 20 years we expect to contract for or build more than 20 major warships, including; nuclear attack submarines, new aircraft carriers and more air defence destroyers, and to begin a new class of fleet escorts. Numerous support ships will also come into service over this period.

Troop Relocations

Robert Flello: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the relocation of Army personnel from Germany.

Derek Twigg: As part of the Future Army Structures, I can confirm that the transition of 4th Armoured Brigade into 4th Mechanized Brigade has been made and the unit continues to train and equip for its new role. 4th Mechanized Brigade will move from Osnabrück to Catterick during 2008-09.
	In addition the BORONA Programme is currently assessing a number of possible UK locations for elements of the British Army's Germany based units. No decisions have yet been taken.

BAE Arms Contracts

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the role of his Department in the negotiation of BAE arms contracts.

Des Browne: BAES is the largest supplier of defence equipment to the Ministry of Defence, providing products and services in the air, sea, land and space sectors. As with all contracts placed by MOD acquisition staff, the contracts with BAES are negotiated against a strict set of terms and conditions in order to deliver acquisition programmes to meet operational, programme requirements and to achieve best value for money.
	As with other UK defence companies, we also support the company's efforts in the defence export market through the Defence Export Services Organisation.

Bevin Boys

Mr. Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made towards recognising the contribution of the Bevin Boys to the second world war effort; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: Following the Prime Minister's Statement on 24 January that the Government would be announcing proposals to give recognition to the Bevin Boys, it has been agreed that responsibility for implementing the Prime Minister's decision should lie with the Department of Trade and Industry, as the department responsible for the coal mining industry. I understand that a statement giving specific detail on the Government's proposals is imminent.

Veterans: Mental Health

Eric Joyce: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what provision his Department has made for the mental health care of veterans.

Derek Twigg: I announced on 11 June that the Ministry of Defence was expanding the medical assessment programme at St. Thomas' Hospital, London, to provide assessments to any veteran suffering from mental health problems as a result of service in operations since 1982. For the longer term, the MOD is working with the four UK Health Departments to pilot a new community-based service that will provide NHS health professionals with access to expertise in military mental health.

Departments: Property

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much was raised from the sale of departmental property in each of the last five years.

Derek Twigg: The proceeds from the disposal of surplus defence land and buildings are as follows:
	
		
			  Financial year  £ million 
			 2001-02 185 
			 2002-03 281 
			 2003-04 207 
			 2004-05 216 
			 2005-06 258 
		
	
	It should be noted that 2001-02 includes disposals in the UK and North West Europe only. Disposals in the rest of the world cannot be obtained without disproportionate cost.
	2006-07 figures will be available once the agency accounts of Defence Estates—the Ministry of Defence organisation responsible for the defence estate—have been audited. A copy will be placed in the Library of the House.

Military Bases: Cyprus

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence upon what grounds and for what reason a currency other than sterling will be used by British troops based on UK sovereign territory in Cyprus from next year; what consultations have taken place in connection therewith; with whom those consultations have taken place; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: holding answer 15 June 2007
	Appendix O to the 1960 treaty establishing the Republic of Cyprus states
	"the currency of the Republic will be legal tender in the Sovereign Base Areas (SBAs)".
	Since 1960 the SBAs, including the large numbers of Cypriots citizens and British military personnel resident there have used the Cyprus pound and not the pound sterling. The Republic of Cyprus is expected to replace the Cyprus pound with the euro from 1 January 2008. If this happens then the legal tender in the SBAs will become the euro. Use of a currency in the SBAs other than that circulating in the Republic of Cyprus would be impractical, and would run counter to the 1960 treaty.
	UK military and UK based civilian staff will continue, as now, to be paid in pounds sterling and they can continue, as now, to elect to have a portion of their salary paid in the local currency into a local bank account. The same process applies in other overseas locations including Germany which also now uses the euro.
	HMG has consulted both the government of the Republic of Cyprus and the European Commission on the practical aspects of euro use.

Arts Council

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 11 June 2007,  Official Report, column 739W, on the Arts Council, how many projects of all sizes were cancelled by Arts Council England in each of the last five years.

David Lammy: On average, the Arts Council receives approximately 8,500 applications a year, resulting in awards for 4,500 projects on average.
	It is not possible to systematically identify records on the Arts Councils grants systems of awards that were cancelled. Consequently to provide an answer would involve manually examining hundreds, if not thousands of records which would incur disproportionate costs.

Digital Broadcasting

Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what work her Department is undertaking to develop public service applications delivered via digital television; and if she will make a statement.

Shaun Woodward: A return path, which would facilitate interactivity with public service applications via digital television, is not currently a requirement for set-top boxes provided by the Digital Switchover Help Scheme. However, officials continue to have discussions with various parties about how these services might be delivered, and the requirements for Help Scheme set-top boxes are kept under review so that equipment will be updated so as to best meet the needs of the groups the scheme is intended to serve.

Digital Broadcasting: Border Television

Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what involvement her Department has had with Border Television in preparation for the digital switchover in Copeland in October.

Shaun Woodward: Digital UK is in regular contact with the editorial team and management at Border TV. Border TV offers a vital local service to viewers in the region, and Digital UK's regional manager for the Border TV region, John Askew, regularly appears on local news programmes to explain to viewers what they can practically do to prepare their homes for the switch.
	In addition, the local news features a regular programme entitled 'Ask Tim' whereby viewers send in their questions to the presenter who answers them on air. The digital TV switchover is regularly featured as a topic on 'Ask Tim' and this is largely down to the ongoing and constructive relationship between Digital UK and Border Television.

Digital Broadcasting: Copeland

Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether her Department has collated data on the number of digital  (a) televisions and  (b) receivers sold in Copeland since the announcement in 2006 relating to digital switchover taking place there in October.

Shaun Woodward: Digital UK is speaking to retailers on a monthly basis to assess how much kit they are selling and the feedback from this process is included in the Whitehaven monthly progress report.
	According to the Q1 2007 Digital UK Tracker, 70 per cent. of primary sets in Copeland have already been converted. A further 27 per cent. of other sets have been converted. The proportion of total number of sets converted is 49 per cent. We expect many people to wait until very near the time of switchover until they buy their equipment.
	It should be noted that there is currently no availability of Freeview in Copeland and that the only method for going digital before the switchover is satellite. It is only by switching off the analogue signal that Freeview can be made available to homes in Copeland.

Digital Broadcasting: Copeland

Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what methodology was used to decide that Copeland would be the first area in the UK in which digital switchover would occur; and if she will make a statement.

Shaun Woodward: Copeland was chosen as it offers an ideal environment in which to refine plans for the national switchover programme. The area is a clearly defined one with little broadcast overlap. Copeland has a good demographic mix, 16 per cent. 65+, 6.6 per cent. 75+, 21.4 per cent. registered disabled, living in mix of private/rented housing/multiple dwelling units.
	The area will benefit significantly as the Whitehaven, Gosforth and Eskdale Green transmitters do not provide digital terrestrial TV currently.

Equal Opportunities: Public Bodies

Diane Abbott: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what steps the Government are taking to increase diversity in  (a) the judiciary,  (b) the police,  (c) Parliament and  (d) other UK institutions; and if she will make a statement.

Meg Munn: The Government are committed to increasing diversity and equality of opportunity in UK institutions. The Ministry of Justice is working with the judiciary and Judicial Appointments Commission to increase diversity, for example, by promoting the judicial service and widening the range of people eligible to apply for judicial office. The Judicial Diversity Strategy, setting out the approach was announced to Parliament by written ministerial statement on 17 May 2006,  Official Report, column 25WS. The Judicial Appointments 8(th )Report published in March 2006 showed that the proportion of female judges appointed in the previous year had increased from 31 per cent. to 41 per cent. Between 2001 and 2006 the percentage of female judges rose from 14 to 18 per cent. The percentage of those from a BME background appointed increased from 5 per cent. to 17 per cent. over the previous seven years.
	Colleagues in the Home Office are extremely active in pushing for greater diversity in the police and have introduced a number of initiatives looking at recruitment, retention and progression. These include positive action guidelines on recruitment, and a toolkit looking into the setting of targets for the recruitment of women. 22 per cent. of police officers are women, 3.7 per cent. of police officers are from ethnic minority backgrounds. Progress has been made in recruiting minority ethnic Special Constables (6.6 per cent.) and Police Staff (6.9 per cent.) and especially minority ethnic Police Community Support Officers (15.2 per cent.).
	In 2002 we introduced the Sex Discrimination (Election Candidates) Act allowing positive measures towards women's increased participation in politics. This legislation is having an impact. Women now make up 20 per cent. of MPs compared with 9 per cent. before 1997. However, there is still a long way to go; only 2.3 per cent. of MPs are from non-white backgrounds, compared to around 8 per cent. of the population. The Discrimination Law Review is considering the case for widening the scope of positive measures to target the selection of political candidates beyond gender. It is also looking at how to widen the range of voluntary positive action measures available to organisations as employees and service providers in order to prevent or compensate for disadvantage or to meet the special needs of groups protected by discrimination law. Our consultation paper, A Framework for Fairness, setting out our proposals for a Single Equality Bill, was published on 12 June.

Galileo Project

Gwyneth Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what the expected cost-benefit ratio of the Galileo Satellite Navigation System was in  (a) 2004-05,  (b) 2005-06 and  (c) 2006-07;
	(2)  what limit the UK Government have set for  (a) the maximum level of funding that it would approve for the Galileo project and  (b) the cost-benefit ratio at which it would withdraw its support for the project.

Stephen Ladyman: No annual cost-benefit ratios have been produced by the Commission. Cost information has been updated from time to time. At the beginning of the programme, the Commission engaged Price Waterhouse Coopers. Their report of November 2001 identified a positive benefit-cost ratio of 4.6:1.
	The conclusions of the December 2004 Transport Council asked the Commission to submit a reasoned analysis of the results of the public private partnership (PPP) negotiations, including on risk allocation and final costs, before any final decision was made. The UK, supported by Austria, entered a minutes statement stressing the need for the proposed risk and cost allocations between public and private sector to be acceptable to Council.
	In spring 2006, three studies were commissioned by the Galileo Joint Undertaking (GJU) and reported to member states at the GJU Supervisory Board. The studies covered revenues, costs, and the value for money of the satellite procurement: no overall cost-benefit analysis was produced.
	The most recent Commission Communication, 16 May 2007, sets out 23 year net present values (NPVs) of:
	(i) €1.8 billion for a PPP as foreseen, except that four of the deployment satellites would be procured by the public sector, as risk mitigation; and
	(ii) €2.2 billion for the public procurement of 18 satellites, with a further 12 purchased by the private sector; and
	(iii) €1.0 billion for the public procurement of 30.
	On 8 June Transport Council Ministers concluded that the current negotiations have failed. The Commission has been requested to submit to the October Council for decision detailed alternative proposals for taking the project forward. These should be based on an additional thorough assessment of costs, risks, revenues and timetable. The need for competition in a procurement strategy has been emphasised. The Commission was also requested to bring forward proposals for strengthening the public governance the programme. The UK, jointly with the Netherlands and supported by Slovakia and Cyprus, submitted a minutes statement stressing our commitment to the PPP principle for major infrastructure projects, our concerns on the potential increased costs of public procurement, the need for a reassessment of the business case for Galileo, competitive procurement, sound risk management, and ensuring that any extra funds are kept within the current EU financial perspective.
	The Government have not set either a maximum level of funding that it would approve for the project, or a cost-benefit ratio at which it would withdraw its support. The latest information from the European Space Agency is that costs of the development phase are €1778.40 million to date (2007 cash terms). The draft EU Financial Regulation allocates €900 million, at 2004 prices, to the deployment phase.
	The Government are strongly committed to the existing budget ceilings and to ensuring that there is no reopening of the Financial Perspective. The principle that member states would not be required to fund Galileo from national budgets for the deployment and operational phases of the programme was agreed at the March 2002 Transport Council. The Government remain committed to this principle.

Galileo Project

Gwyneth Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what return he expects to receive on the UK's contribution to the Galileo project; and how it will be calculated;
	(2)  what evaluations he has made of the market opportunities and applications of Galileo; when those evaluations were made; and when they were last revised.

Stephen Ladyman: No calculation of UK return has been made for the programme as a whole.
	ESA operates an industrial policy that provides for a geographical return based on member state contributions. The UK commitment to the ESA element of the design and development phase of the programme is €142 million. The value of contracts awarded to UK companies up to 15 May 2007 was €212.7 million.
	The EU's contribution to the design and development phase is made from the EC budget and is estimated by the Commission to be €790 million. The UK makes its contributions to the EC budget as a whole and not to individual spending programmes within it.
	There is not an identified UK contribution to the design and development phase of the programme via the EU budget.
	The Government expect benefits from its investment in Galileo for companies that provide space technology and services, and for companies that exploit the technology in downstream applications. A study commissioned by the British National Space Centre (BNSC) in 2005 evaluated the economic impact of Galileo in the UK. It identified benefits for space segment industries and for downstream services and products.

Galileo Project

Gwyneth Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans there are to strengthen the GNSS programme as referred to in the European Commission communication COM (2007) 261 of 16 May 2007; and by what mechanisms it will be strengthened.

Stephen Ladyman: In its Resolution of 24 April 2007, the European Parliament called on the Commission to:
	"make a proposal—together with the European Space Agency (ESA)—capable of solving the problem of better public governance by ensuring clear political responsibility and leadership on the part of the Commission."
	The Commission Communication of 16 May 2007 refers to this request. The Communication proposes that the Commission be asked to bring forward proposals for stronger public governance of the project with clearer divisions of responsibility between the Commission, ESA and the European GNSS Supervisory Authority (GSA). On 8 June 2007 Transport Council asked the Commission to submit in September proposals for
	'a sound public sector management structure of the programme on the basis of a clear division of responsibilities between Commission, ESA, GSA, member states and Council'.

Galileo Project

Gwyneth Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the scope is of the European Union EGNOS programme; what the timetable is for its implementation; what its cost will be to the UK; how the programme is regulated; which British  (a) nationals and  (b) firms are involved in this initiative; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: The European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS) is a satellite based augmentation system (SBAS) that will augment the two satellite navigation systems now operating, the US Global Positioning System (GPS) and the Russian Global Orbiting Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS) systems, and make them suitable for safety critical applications such as flying aircraft or navigating ships through narrow channels.
	It is a joint project of the European Space Agency (ESA), the European Commission and Eurocontrol (the European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation), with the involvement of the principal European Air Traffic Service Providers, including NATS plc. The programme is regulated as an ESA programme under its ARTES 9 programme. The integration of EGNOS into the Galileo programme was decided by Transport Council in its conclusions of June 2003.
	The programme funding currently provides for the development and operation of the system by ESA until 31 March 2008. Arrangements and the funding of EGNOS after March 2008 are unlikely to be decided until the October 2007 Transport Council.
	The ARTES 9 programme of ESA is funded by subscriptions from its member states. The European Community also contributes as have the principal European air traffic service providers. Since the start of the programme, UK contributions to ESA have been almost €35 million.
	This industrial sector is international in nature but prominent firms operating in the UK that have been awarded contracts by ESA include British Telecommunications, Inmarsat UK, LogicaCMG UK, Thales (UK), and Vega UK.
	Accordingly, accurate information on all specific British nationals and firms that have been involved in this initiative would be difficult to provide and only at disproportionate cost.

Galileo Project: Finance

Gwyneth Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the  (a) cost and  (b) merits of funding the Galileo project through (i) public and (ii) private finance.

Stephen Ladyman: Galileo is a European Community project which the Government accept should be managed at European level.
	The most recent Commission Communication, 16 May 2007, sets out 23 year net present values (NPVs) of:
	i. €1.8 billion for a PPP as foreseen, except that four of the deployment satellites would be procured by the public sector, as risk mitigation; and
	ii. €2.2 billion for the public procurement of 18 satellites, with a further 12 purchased by the private sector; and
	iii. €1.0 billion for the public procurement of 30.
	On 8 June Transport Council Ministers concluded that the current negotiations have failed. The Commission has been requested to submit detailed alternative proposals for taking the project forward to the October Council for decision. These should be based on an additional thorough assessment of costs, risks, revenues and timetable. The need for competition in a procurement strategy has been emphasised. The Commission was also requested to bring forward proposals for strengthening the public governance of the programme. The timetable for the programme, its funding, and its organisation are subject to these decisions.
	The UK, jointly with the Netherlands and supported by Slovakia and Cyprus, submitted a minutes statement stressing our commitment to the PPP principle for major infrastructure projects, our concerns on the potential increased costs of public procurement, the need for a reassessment of the business case for Galileo, competitive procurement, sound risk management, and ensuring that any extra funds are kept within the current EU financial perspective.
	The Department has not made a separate estimate of the costs and merits of funding the Galileo project through public and private finance.

M3

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will provide estimates of the level of noise between junctions five and seven of the M3 motorway in each of the last 20 years for which data are available further to the answer of 27 June 2005,  Official Report, column 1261W on the M3.

Stephen Ladyman: Noise data are not available to estimate noise levels between junctions five and seven of the M3 for each of the last 20 years. As explained in the answers of 27 June 2005, assessments of noise severity are made using the "Calculation of Road Traffic Noise" (CRTN model) which use distance from source, exposure, obstacles and traffic levels. Each of these factors varies significantly at any point along the road length. The range would vary between less than 60 dB to more than 72.5 dB at the road surface.
	The statement in the answer of 27 June 2005 that the noise level is likely to have increased by around 4.5 dB over the last 20 years was based on the approximate increase in traffic levels over the 20 year period.
	To provide retrospective assessments would require assumptions to be made about many of the variable factors which would reduce the accuracy of assessments to an unreliable level.
	The Highways Agency has conducted assessments using the CRTN model at specific "noise hotspots" and implementation of a programme of local noise mitigation measures is ongoing.

Higher Education: West Lancashire

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many entrants to university undergraduate courses came from West Lancashire constituency in each of the last five years.

Bill Rammell: The latest available information is shown in the table. Figures for 2006/07 will be available in January 2008.
	
		
			  Entrants to undergraduate courses( 1)  from West Lancashire parliamentary constituency ,  UK higher education institutions, academic years 2001/02 to 2005/06 
			 Academic year  Number of entrants 
			 2001/02 1,090 
			 2002/03 1,100 
			 2003/04 1,215 
			 2004/05 1,200 
			 2005/06 1,285 
			 (1) Covers students on full-time and part-time modes of study.  Note: Figures are on a HESA standard registration population basis and are rounded to the nearest five.  Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).

Higher Education: West Lancashire

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the participation rate in higher education was of people aged 18 to 21 years in West Lancashire constituency in each year since 1997.

Bill Rammell: The main measure for tracking progress on increasing participation is currently the Higher Education Initial Participation Rate (HEIPR). This is the sum of the HE initial participation rates for individual ages between 17 and 30 inclusive. It covers English-domiciled first-time entrants to HE courses, which are expected to last for at least six months, at UK higher education institutions and English, Scottish and Welsh further education colleges, and who remain on their course for at least six months. The initial participation rates for 18 to 21-year-olds can be derived from the HEIPR and the figures are shown in the table:
	
		
			  HE initial participation rate for 18 to 21-year-olds 
			   18 to 21-year-old initial participation rate (percentage) 
			 1999/2000 32 (32.4) 
			 2000/01 33 (33.0) 
			 2001/02 34 (33.6) 
			 2002/03 34 (33.8) 
			 2003/04 33 (32.9) 
			 2004/05 33 (33.3) 
			 2005/06 35 (35.1) 
			  Note: The HEIPR is usually published to the nearest integer, but the figures are included to one decimal place to inform comparisons over time. 
		
	
	The HEIPR is available for English-domiciled students only, and it is not broken down by smaller areas.
	The latest available figures on participation by local areas were published by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) in January 2005 in "Young Participation in Higher Education", which is available from the HEFCE website at:
	http://www.hefce.ac.uk/pubs/hefce/2005/05_03/
	The HEFCE report shows participation rates for young people who enter higher education aged 18 or 19 disaggregated by parliamentary constituency, local education authority (LEA) and Government Office Region for the years 1997 to 2000.
	Figures taken from this report for the West Lancashire constituency, together with the comparable figure for England, are shown in the table:
	
		
			  Young  participation r ate (YPR (A)) 
			  Percentage 
			   Year cohort aged 18 in: 
			  Government  office region/country  1997  1998  1999  2000 
			 West Lancashire 33 32 32 33 
			 England 29 29 29 30 
			  Source: Higher Education Funding Council for England.

Lip Reading: Finance

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of the costs for lip-reading classes are met by the Learning and Skills Council; and whether individual funding of learners differs by  (a) age of learner and  (b) degree of disability.

Bill Rammell: There is an assumed fee contribution for all further education provision funded by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC), including courses in lip-reading. For 2007/08 the assumed fee element will be 37.5 per cent. meaning that LSC funding will continue to account for at least 62.5 per cent. of the cost of all LSC funded FE courses. A large number of learners also benefit from full fee remission including all 16 to 18-year-olds and those on means tested benefits including those in receipt of the Pension (Guarantee) Credit.
	Additional Learner Support (ALS) funding is available from the LSC in order for providers to meet the additional needs of their learners, including those with learning difficulties and/or disabilities. The LSC also funds placements in specialist colleges for learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities based on the learning and specialist support they require.
	With the exception of the rules on fee remission individual funding does not differ according to age, although providers have discretion over the level of the fees they charge and many providers will have their own local fee remission policies in place. For instance in 2004/05 more than 80 per cent. of lip-reading courses were free to learners either as a result of national policy or the discretion of the provider.
	Learners who do not qualify for free tuition can still receive support from Learner Support Funds administered directly by colleges. Learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities, including those with hearing impairments, are given priority for these funds especially where they are at risk of not taking up or continuing in Further Education.

Afghanistan: Drugs

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps she is taking to eradicate the poppy crop in Afghanistan; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: The UK is spending £270 million over three years in support of the Afghan government's national drug control strategy (NDCS), to bring about a sustainable reduction in the cultivation, production and trafficking of opium. This includes £130 million on efforts to provide alternative legal livelihoods, introducing new, innovative and sustainable ways for farmers to make a living. The NDCS is a well balanced strategy with four key priorities—targeting the trafficker; strengthening and diversifying legal rural livelihoods; reducing demand; and developing state institutions. As Afghanistan's partner nation on counter narcotics we are helping the Afghans sharpen the implementation of the NDCS and encourage international partners to provide continued support and resources.

Chad: Overseas Aid

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what response the Government has made to France's request for EU partners to send a force of 12,000 troops to Chad to provide aid for civilians seeking refuge from the Darfur conflict.

Ian McCartney: We support renewed French efforts to improve the humanitarian situation in eastern Chad. The UK has long supported the proposal for a UN deployment to Chad, including through adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 1706, and welcomes initial preparatory work in this direction by the UN Secretary-General. The UK is prepared to consider other proposals to move the situation forward, including the possibility of an EU role, although no formal request for such a role has yet been made and force numbers have not been discussed.
	We remain very concerned about the humanitarian and security situation in eastern Chad. We are particularly concerned about: increasing levels of internal displacement due to inter-ethnic fighting and cross-border attacks from Darfur; the protection of refugees and internally displaced people; the security environment for humanitarian agency operations; and the fragility of the natural resource base to support displaced populations. We and our international partners continue to urge the Chadian government to accept a UN mission.

Saudi Arabia: Terrorism

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports she has received on the funding which has been accrued by the Al Qaeda terrorist network from charitable bodies in Saudi Arabia; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: Preventing the misuse of charitable organisations for the financing of terrorist groups, including Al-Qaeda, is an important part of the international counter-terrorism effort.
	Our international counter-terrorism partners, including Saudi Arabia, are concerned that terrorists are able to send and receive funds, often through abuses of the charitable sector, from sources in many countries. A number of Saudi Arabian based charities are currently designated on the UN Consolidated List established and maintained by the 1267 Committee with respect to Al-Qaeda, Usama Bin Laden, the Taliban and other individuals, groups, and entities associated with them.
	The Saudi Arabian authorities are committed to tackling the threat from terrorism and we work closely with them on all aspects of the counter-terrorism agenda.
	The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is currently funding a £1.2 million International Programme run by the UK Charity Commission that works to reduce the risk of misuse of the charitable sector for terrorist financing. They provide technical assistance and capacity building for the regulatory systems in a number of countries, including Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia: Terrorism

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether investigations by the UK Government and its agencies have shown that any terrorist activities since 11 September 2001 have been funded by groups based in Saudi Arabia; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: The Government are concerned that terrorists are able to send and receive funds from sources in many countries. As a matter of course, we do not comment in detail on on-going counter-terrorism investigations.
	The authorities in Saudi Arabia have introduced and are developing a programme to take action to tackle terrorist financing. They have introduced tighter banking regulations and are seeking to ensure that donations from charitable organisations in the Kingdom are directed in accordance with international requirements. Saudi Arabia is one of the UK's key partners in counter terrorism and we enjoy a high level of co-operation across the spectrum, including countering terrorist financing.

Uganda: Corruption

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports she has received on the theft in Uganda of $1.6 million from Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation.

Ian McCartney: On 22 May, arrest warrants were issued for three former Health Ministers (Jim Muhwesi, Mike Mukula and Alex Kamugisha) and a former State House official (Alice Kaboyo) for the misappropriation of Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation funds. This followed an investigation carried out by the Ugandan Inspector General of government. The accused have been charged with various offences including abuse of office, theft, and forgery, and their trial is due to commence on 16 July. I cannot comment further as the matter is  sub judice.
	Corruption remains a serious problem in Uganda and we welcome all steps taken by the Ugandan authorities to investigate thoroughly corruption allegations and to seek prosecutions where the evidence allows. Our High Commissioner in Kampala most recently discussed the need for action against corruption with President Museveni on 10 May.

Vietnam: Human Rights

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will make representations to the government of Vietnam for assurances that it will not enforce the instructions to local authorities to compel Protestants in the northern highlands to recant their religious beliefs.

Ian McCartney: We, with our EU partners, regularly discuss human rights issues, including religious freedom, with the Vietnamese government. The biannual EU-Vietnam Human Rights Dialogue, which was established in 2003, is the main forum for raising our concerns. The most recent dialogue was held on 20 December 2006. Freedom of religion, restrictions on religious organisations and the situation of ethnic minority Protestant groups were among the issues raised by the EU. The next EU-Vietnam Human Rights Dialogue is scheduled to take place on 28 June.
	We are aware of reports of the continued harassment of some religious groups in some areas. We have urged the Vietnamese authorities to increase awareness and capacity among local authorities and to guarantee the right of all religious groups to practise their faith freely in the community through full implementation of the appropriate legislation and to adhere to its international human rights obligations. Regulations in force since 2004 establish criteria for the recognition of hitherto non-sanctioned religious groups. We remain concerned that progress in registering congregations in the northern uplands in particular remains slow.
	On 18 May, senior officials from our Embassy in Hanoi, and several other EU missions, raised our specific concerns with the Vietnamese government authority responsible for registering religious organisations. Additionally, I raised human rights issues at a recent bilateral with Vietnamese Vice Minister Le Cung Phung during the EU/Association of South East Asian Nations Foreign Ministers Meeting on 14 and 15 March.

Burma: Corruption

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what monitoring and auditing of UN Development Programme projects in Burma funded by his Department takes place to counter corruption and to ensure that funds do not end up in the hands of the regime.

Gareth Thomas: All UN Development Programme (UNDP) work in Burma is carried out in compliance with guidelines established by its Executive Board. These stipulate that all UNDP assistance to Burma should be clearly targeted towards programmes having grass-roots-level impact in a sustainable manner, particularly in the areas of primary health care, the environment, HIV/AIDS, training and education and food security.
	In order to deliver this mandate, UNDP has established the Human Development Initiative (HDI), funded by DFID and other donors, with the objective of meeting basic needs and alleviating poverty in some of the poorest areas of Burma. In accordance with the Executive Board restrictions, UNDP does not transfer funds to the Burmese authorities. However, like other international organisations operating in Burma, UNDP has been required to purchase items such as fuel and telecommunications services and pay rent for its premises, and the authorities remain the sole provider of such services.
	UNDP has a network of approximately 1,500 national staff based in the 57 townships in which the HDI operates in Burma. These staff—at the state/division level, township level and community level—undertake extensive routine process monitoring for all project activities. They are involved in all aspects of implementation, verification of accounts and expenditures, review of problems, and provision of technical support to ensure effective implementation. Their monitoring is supplemented by national programme managers, which in turn is overseen by UNDP international staff who also regularly visit programme sites. No difficulty has been encountered in such monitoring on account of any government control or restrictions. National staff can travel freely; they do not have to ask for travel permission and are not accompanied by counterpart or local officials in the performance of their project work. Internationals do have to ask for permission but there has been no case when permission has been denied. Furthermore, the formulation of the Operating Guidelines by the Government (February 2006) has not had any significant impact on UNDP's ability to engage effectively in the field, or to abide by its Executive Board mandate, adhering to humanitarian principles.
	On the basis of their programme monitoring, UNDP provides DFID with periodic written progress reports on HDI activities. This includes substantive information on activities, achievements, challenges/issues and recommendations as required, as well as budgetary information. A detailed financial report accounting for the previous tranche of support from DFID is necessary before the next tranche is provided to UNDP. Donors themselves carry out an annual joint assessment mission to review the HDI programme. Further ad hoc fieldtrips are made by donors to project sites—in DFID's case, about four times a year.
	Finally, in order to ensure compliance with the Executive Board mandate, independent assessments of the HDI are carried out regularly and reported to the Executive Board. The assessment teams include a team of external consultants who undertake 3-4 week field trips to prepare their report. The report for the period May 2006 to April 2007 is now being finalised and will be presented to the Executive Board in September 2007. The initial findings conclude that the HDI programme is in full compliance with the Executive Board mandate and addresses the needs of the poor and vulnerable in rural areas of Burma with humanitarian assistance. The 2006 Assessment—covering the period 2005-06—also echoes the conclusion of previous reports, namely, that the HDI programme effectively provides humanitarian support on a large scale and that
	"all projects operate independently of the Government and target the village-level groups and needs described in the [EB] mandate."
	The full report can be found on the Executive Board website at:
	www.undp.org/execbrd/adv2006-second.htm

Departments: Advertising

David Heath: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much revenue his Department received from advertisements on its  (a) public information leaflets and  (b) public websites in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

Gareth Thomas: The only publication that DFID has received advertising revenue from is the free quarterly magazine 'Developments'. Due to changes in accounting practices, figures are only available from 2003 onwards. To establish figures from 1997 onwards would incur disproportionate cost. Developments magazine only accepts advertising from educational or training institutions.
	
		
			   £ 
			 2003 19,787.00 
			 2004 30,455.66 
			 2005 29,025.80 
			 2006 42,524.20 
		
	
	Figures are not yet available for 2007.
	DFID has never run any adverts on its corporate website.

Developing Countries: Education

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many 10 year agreements under the Education for All initiative announced in April 2006 have been signed with developing countries since then; how much of the $15 billion fund earmarked has been delivered; and how many extra pupils are in education full-time in those countries.

Gareth Thomas: The authoritative source of global education data is the Education for All Global Monitoring Report. The 2007 report was published by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation in November 2006. It includes statistics by country of primary aged children enrolled at school up to the year 2004. This is the most recent source of global data available. Statistics up to the year 2005 will be available in the 2008 report which is due to be published by December 2007. Therefore, it is too soon to report on the additional numbers of children receiving an education in particular countries since the UK's education initiative launched in April 2006.
	The UK education initiative involves the provision of long-term predictable support to education through a commitment of £8.5 billion over a 10-year period from April 2006. The amount of bilateral aid disbursed in support of education in developing countries for the financial year 2006-07 will be reported in DFID's Statistics on International Development to be published in October 2007. DFID's total spend on education also includes funds disbursed via multilateral organisations.
	In launching the UK education initiative, we asked governments to prepare ambitious 10-year education sector plans to which donors should contribute funding support. In Africa, 25 countries are involved. Of these, to date, 17 have produced their plans. The Education for All Fast Tract Initiative (FTI), supported by 15 donors, is also supporting the development of education sector plans. The FTI's Education Programme Development Fund provides technical assistance to help with the preparation of plans and the Catalytic Fund for the implementation of endorsed plans. 31 countries have obtained FTI endorsement since its inception in 2002 and a further 30 countries are working towards endorsement in 2007 and 2008. The UK is contributing some £150 million through the FTI.
	Since April 2006, the UK has announced 10-year agreements to support education plans in Ethiopia, Ghana, Mozambique and Tanzania totalling £646 million. The UK has also made recent commitments to support education plans in Burundi, DRC, India, Nepal, Sierra Leone and Somalia.

Developing Countries: Medical Treatments

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on his Department's proposals on a Medicines Transparency Alliance.

Gareth Thomas: DFID is working with a wide range of partners, including the World Health Organisation, developing country governments, pharmaceutical companies and non-governmental organisation on the development of the Medicines Transparency alliance (MeTA).
	MeTA seeks to increase transparency over vital information on the price, quality and availability of essential medicines in developing countries so as to help tackle high prices, challenge corruption and address inefficiency. One third of the world's population lacks access to essential medicines. The prices patients pay are often much higher than the price agreed at procurement, with cumulative mark-ups of 300 per cent. not being uncommon as medicines move from procurement through storage, supply, distribution and ultimately to health centres and pharmacies. In addition, up to a third of medicines on the market in developing countries are fakes.
	Procurement and supply systems are generally opaque, meaning excessive price mark-ups, corruption and inefficiency can go unchallenged. Most people have little idea about what medicines should cost, or what a good quality medicine looks like.
	MeTA seeks to change this by securing high level political commitment to increased transparency and accountability over medicines procurement and supply in countries that choose to take part, and by bringing the right people around the table—government departments, civil society organisations, companies and others—to agree ways of disclosing information on the price, the quality and the availability of essential medicines into the public arena, with the aim of ultimately reducing the cost, improving the quality and increasing the availability of medicines.
	MeTA builds on the success of the extractive industries transparency initiative (EITI) by applying principles of transparency and accountability to medicines procurement and supply. Application of EITI principles to other sectors was supported by G8 countries at the recent Heiligendamm summit, and their specific application to the health sector was a commitment in the 2006 International Development White Paper.
	A major stakeholder meeting for MeTA was held on 18 April, attended by all relevant groups and addressed by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Development. An official launch will take place in the summer, with the launch of pilots in around five countries to develop a model approach to increased transparency and accountability in medicines procurement and supply.

Members: Correspondence

David Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Walsall, North of 8 May regarding a constituent, ref: M10538/7.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 14 June 2007
	I wrote to my right hon. Friend on 13 June 2007.

Pensioner Poverty

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate  (a) how many pensioners were living in deep poverty, defined as a household income below 40 per cent. of median household earnings and  (b) how many such pensioners were not claiming the full pension credit or minimum income guarantee they were entitled to in each year since 1997-98.

James Purnell: pursuant to the reply, 8 January 2007, Official Report, c. 1721-24W
	The most common and internationally recognised threshold to measure poverty is income below 60 per cent. of median. We do not present information covering 40 per cent. of median income in our Households Below Average Income series as it is not a good measure of poverty. This is because households stating the lowest incomes to the Family Resources Survey (FRS) may not actually have the lowest living standards. Many people who report very low incomes appear to have high spending. Hence any statistics on numbers in this group may be misleading.
	Specific information regarding low income for the United Kingdom is available in "Households Below Average Income 1994-95 to 2005-06" (HBAI). This annual report, which is a National Statistics publication, includes the numbers and proportions of individuals, children, working age adults and pensioners with incomes below 50 per cent., 60 per cent. and 70 per cent. of median income, and the proportions in persistent poverty.
	Pension credit has been highly successful in reducing pensioner poverty; since its introduction, the number of pensioners in relative poverty has fallen by over 700,000. Now, for the first time in a period of sustained economic growth, pensioners are less likely to be in poverty than the population as a whole, after housing costs are accounted for.
	We continue to make every effort to ensure that pension credit goes to those who are entitled to it. It is more challenging to reach those entitled to smaller amounts, or to the savings credit only, who may be less familiar with the entitlements available to them. The Pension Service has contacted pensioners to encourage them to take up entitlement to pension credit many times already as part of extensive marketing activity. Over 70 per cent. of those pensioners who appear to have entitlement to pension credit have been contacted over five times already. And around 25 per cent. of customers visited about pension credit say that they do not want to make a claim.
	However, we are committed to improving take-up and are continually looking at further ways to target these groups and encouraging them to apply.
	The information requested for pensioners in Great Britain is shown in the following tables. Estimates of entitled non-recipients of MIG or pension credit should be treated with caution. This is especially the case given that we are looking at the extreme of the income distribution and so are less sure of pensioners' modelled entitlement. Results are based on small sample sizes and have not been corrected for biases that may be inherent in estimates of entitlement to income related benefits—that is, they may be based on the data for those who appear to be entitled non-recipients but will not all actually be entitled non recipients and vice versa. Figures are therefore presented as proportions of the total pensioner population below the 40 per cent. of median household income.
	
		
			  Table 1 : Number of pensioners living in households with less than 40 per cent. of contemporary median household income, and as a proportion of all pensioners, for the years 1997-98 to 2005-06, Great Britain 
			   After housing costs  (million)  As a proportion of all pensioners  (percentage) 
			 1997-98 0.47 5 
			 1998-99 0.49 5 
			 1999-2000 0.49 5 
			 2000-01 0.46 5 
			 2001-02 0.51 5 
			 2002-03 0.47 5 
			 2003-04 0.51 5 
			 2004-05 0.45 4 
			 2005-06 0.46 4 
			  Notes: 1. Figures are presented after housing costs as this is our preferred measure for pensioners. 2. The table shows number of individuals in millions, rounded to the nearest 10 thousand. 3. These figures are not National Statistics and caution must be applied because those people stating the lowest incomes in the FRS may not actually have the lowest living standards. 4. Estimates cover the private household population of Great Britain. The data source is the Family Resources Survey. 5. These figures are calculated using OECD equivalisation factors. Prior to 2002-03 they are based on a GB median and from 2002-03 it is based on a UK median. This is consistent with low income estimates published in the latest edition of Households Below Average Income. The GB median is similar to the UK median. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Proportion of pensioners living in households with income below 40 per cent. of contemporary median household income who were also living in a benefit unit that is entitled but not receiving IS/MIG/PC, Great Britain 
			Percentage 
			   After housing costs  As a proportion of all pensioners 
			 1997-98 36 2 
			 1998-99 35 2 
			 1999-2000 42 2 
			 2000-01 45 2 
			 2001-02 57 3 
			 2002-03 55 3 
			 2003-04 50 2 
			 2004-05 64 3 
			 2005-06 60 3 
			  Notes: 1. Figures are presented after housing costs as this is our preferred measure for pensioners. 2. Estimates of the pensioner population cover those above state pension age (60 for women and 65 for men). The estimates therefore exclude some men aged 60 to 64 and partners of pensioners aged under 60, who may have been eligible but not claiming pension credit. 3. Estimates also exclude those cases where respondents have reported they are awaiting the outcome of a claim for a benefit and have been modelled as entitled to that benefit. 4. Estimates cover the private household population of Great Britain. The data source is the Family Resources Survey. 5. These figures are calculated using OECD equivalisation factors. Prior to 2002-03 they are based on a GB median and from 2002-03 it is based on a UK median. This is consistent with low income estimates published in the latest edition of Households Below Average Income. The GB median is similar to the UK median. 6. Minimum income guarantee (MIG) was introduced for pensioners in April 1999 paid through income support. 7. Pension credit (PC) was introduced mid-way through 2003-04; therefore, estimates for 2003-04 cover those pensioners who were entitled but not receiving either MIG or PC. As this relates to the first six months of pension credit the figures should be treated with some caution. 8. For the purposes of this analysis, benefit unit based data (take-up statistics) were combined with household equivalised income based results (Households Below Average Income statistics). 9. Estimates for 2000-01 and 2003-04 onwards incorporate the results of a data matching exercise, which links the Family Resources Survey with DWP administrative data in order to identify 'hidden recipients' of MIG-PC, i.e. those people who tell the FRS they do not receive pension credit, but actually do. 10. Estimates are presented as proportions of the total pensioner population below the 40 per cent. of median household income, as the analysis is based on single-year survey data and the absolute numbers of such pensioners who were not claiming the pension credit or minimum income guarantee they were entitled to might be biased due to small sample sizes. 11. These analyses have not been corrected for the biases that may be inherent in estimates of entitlement to income-related benefits—that is, they may be based on the data for those who appear to be entitled non recipients (ENRs) but will not all actually be ENRs and vice versa—and so they should be treated with some caution. 12.The estimates relate only to those who were modelled as entitled to receive benefit but were not identified to be in receipt of any amount of benefit. It therefore does not include cases where a pensioner is in receipt of some benefit, but this is less than the amount they are truly entitled to. Including these cases may not give a reliable indication of full take-up due to the potential error that exists in modelling entitlement.

Cancer: Medical Treatments

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to make sutent available in England for the treatment of cancer.

Rosie Winterton: Sunitinib (sutent) is licensed for use in the treatment of renal cell carcinoma and gastrointestinal stromal tumours.
	The Department is currently considering referring Sunitinib for renal cell carcinoma to the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) for appraisal.
	In the meantime, it is for local primary care trusts to decide whether to make Sunitinib available to patients. In doing so, they need to take into account the available evidence. It is not acceptable for national health service organisations to refuse to fund a treatment simply because if has not been appraised by NICE.

Community Care: Expenditure

Howard Stoate: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what the annual expenditure on home care services was per care recipient of each local authority in England with social services responsibilities in 2006-07;
	(2)  what average annual charge was paid to each local authority in England with social services responsibilities by home care services users that contribute towards the cost of their care in 2006-07.

Ivan Lewis: Information for the financial year 2006-07 is being collected and is due to be published in February 2008.
	Table one shows the annual expenditure on home care services for each local authority for 2005-06.
	Table two shows the actual income recouped via sales, fees and charges to clients receiving home care services funded fully or in part by councils with social services responsibilities for each local authority for 2005-06. Both tables have been placed in the Library.
	Information is collected only on the total number of people receiving services. Data on the number of those who are contributing to the funding of their care is not collected separately and so the average annual charge requested cannot be calculated.

Community Development: Essex

Douglas Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what factors the North Essex Primary Care Trust took into account in deciding to fund a community development worker to liaise with Colchester and Tendring Black and Minority Ethnic Partnership; and how much she expects to be spent on the worker;
	(2)  what guidelines her Department has issued on the appointment of community development workers by primary care trusts (PCTs); what account a PCT is expected to take of the financial position of its other mental health provision in making a decision on whether to appoint a person to such a post; and what discussions her Department has had with North East Essex Primary Care Trust on its recent decision to appoint such a worker.

Rosie Winterton: This is a local matter. It is the responsibility of primary care trusts (PCTs) to ensure that the services they commission meet the needs of the communities that they serve.
	The PCTs decision to appoint a community development worker (CDW) is in accordance with the 2007-08 operating framework for the national health service that states that PCTs are expected to recruit 500 CDWs nationally by December 2007. The appointment of CDWs is a leading priority for mental health services and the Department has supported recruitment with £16 million per annum in PCTs' baseline financial allocations.
	There have been no discussion with North East Essex PCT on the subject.

Dental Services: North Eastern Region

Eric Illsley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total value of orthodontic treatment was carried out during the reference period of  (a) October 2004 and  (b) October 2005 in (i) Barnsley, (ii) Doncaster, (iii) Rotherham and (iv) St. Helens.

Rosie Winterton: The reference period used in calculating funding levels for the new primary dental service arrangements was 1 October 2004 to 30 September 2005. The following table sets out the total payments during that period for courses of treatment which included orthodontic care. The Department does not have data on the value of treatments carried out during the reference period but submitted for payment later.
	
		
			  Primary care trust name  Orthodontic earnings 1 October 2004 to 30 September 2005  (£) 
			 Doncaster, Central 895,608.83 
			 Doncaster, East 109,620.51 
			 Doncaster, West 137,177.76 
			 Rotherham 80,205.19 
			 St. Helens 59,398.90 
			 Barnsley 207,375.93 
			  Notes: 1. The data relates to claims from dentists working under the terms of the former general dental services (GDS) only. It excludes orthodontic work carried out within former personal dental service (PDS) pilots, where the value of orthodontic as opposed to general dental treatments can be less easily identified. The Department is aware of at least two specialist orthodontic practices, in Doncaster Central and Rotherham, which converted to personal dental service pilots either before or during the reference period, which would mean the GDS data above is not fully representative of all elements of orthodontic care. 2. The data is presented by the primary care trust (PCT) areas that were operational during the reference period, rather than the new PCTs that assumed responsibility for services from 1 October 2006.  Source:  Dental Practice Division of the NHS Business Services Authority

Departments: Publicity

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  which  (a) advertising agencies and  (b) other organisations supplied consultancy services for advertising campaigns for (i) her Department and (ii) its agencies in each of the last five years; and what the cost of these services was;
	(2)  how much was spent on advertising by  (a) the Department and  (b) its agencies in each of the last five years.

Ivan Lewis: Consultancy services for advertising campaigns should be understood as the provision of strategic advice on campaigns, not their delivery. Most Government advertising is bought through the Central Office of Information (COI) and under the terms of COI framework agreements advertising agencies are contracted to supply advertising services only, i.e., creative products based on a communications strategy. Advertising agencies (on COI's roster) do not supply broader consultancy services. On occasion wider ranging consultancy projects may inform campaign work but the costs would not be attributed to the campaign.
	Where consultancy is provided by other organisations it usually results in a range of communication activities which may or may not include advertising; so it is not possible to distinguish the cost of providing consultancy for advertising from that for other forms of communication.
	With reference to the second question (139518), the following table shows the advertising spend on information campaigns commissioned by the Department's Communications Directorate in the last five years.
	
		
			  Financial year  Advertising expenditure  (£ million) 
			 2002-03 23.13 
			 2003-04 38.98 
			 2004-05 37.80 
			 2005-06 32.19 
			 2006-07 26.46 
		
	
	We have no central record of advertising spend by Departmental agencies and could not obtain these without incurring disproportionate costs.
	The budget for recruitment advertising below senior civil service level has been delegated to directorates over the period in question. The costs of advertising, as opposed to the other elements of recruiting, could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	For appointments to the senior civil service (SCS), recruitment advertising costs cannot be provided within cost threshold for 2004-05. In 2005-06, the total amount spent on recruitment for SCS posts was £859,000 and 2006-07 to date £571,000. However, this is not just monies spent on advertising but on assessment centres, head-hunting and advertising.

Dietary Supplements: EC Law

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assessment the Food Standards Agency has made of the impact of the implementation of the Food Supplements Directive on  (a) the specialist manufacturing sector and  (b) the specialist health food retail sector;
	(2)  what conclusions the Food Standards Agency has reached in relation to the implications for consumer choice following their recent consultation on the Draft Regulatory Impact Assessment of the Food Supplements Directive;
	(3)  what her Department's objectives are with regard to the promotion of the interests of the specialist natural health product manufacturing and exporting sectors; what  (a) meetings have been held and  (b) other steps taken by officials and Ministers in her Department in relation to the setting of maximum permitted levels for vitamins and foods under Article 5 of the Food Supplements Directive; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: A regulatory impact assessment (RIA) was carried out in 2002 on the implementation of the Food Supplements Directive, this included input from the specialist manufacturing sector and the specialist health food retail sector.
	The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has recently carried out an informal consultation on an initial RIA that sets out the current position in the United Kingdom with respect to food supplements and seeks information from stakeholders to measure the potential impact in advance of future European Commission (EC) proposals for setting daily dosage levels of vitamins and minerals in food supplements. The information will be used to inform the draft RIA, which will then be subject to a formal consultation process. Conclusions will not be available until the end of the formal consultation process.
	The Government's objectives with regard to promotion of the interests of the specialist natural health product manufacturing and exporting sectors are to ensure that consumer choice and protection are maintained.
	I met with the specialist manufacturing and health food retail sectors in March 2007, and have written to and met with the director of DG SANCO at the EC in relation to the setting of maximum permitted levels for vitamins and minerals under Article 5 of the Food Supplements Directive. Officials have previously held meetings with their European counterparts, including a meeting with German officials in March.

Genetically Modified Organisms: Rice

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the plans are for the Food Standards Agency's review of its handling of the GM rice (LL601) contamination incident following the judicial review of the Food Standards Agency by Friends of the Earth when the review will take place; whether the input of external stakeholders will be sought; and who will lead the review.

Caroline Flint: The Food Standards Agency will be carrying out a review of its handling of the genetically modified rice contamination incident. It will seek input from key external stakeholders. Details of the review are currently being finalised.

Heart Diseases: Young People

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funds have been allocated within the NHS to research  (a) the cause of and  (b) treatment for cardiac risk in the young.

Rosie Winterton: Over the last 10 years, the main part of the Department's total expenditure on health research has been devolved to and managed by national health service organisations. These organisations have reported spending from this funding in support of coronary heart disease as follows:
	
		
			   £ million 
			 2002-03 55 
			 2003-04 53 
			 2004-05 59 
			 2005-06 59 
		
	
	The Department does not collect specific expenditure data. Details of individual projects supported in the NHS can be found on the national research register at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/research.
	Implementation of the Department's research strategy 'Best Research for Best Health' will result in an expansion of our research programmes and in significant new funding opportunities for health research. In particular, the University College London Hospitals (UCLH) Biomedical Research Centre and the Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, formed this year, plan to undertake work on sudden cardiac death. The centrally funded budget for the cardiovascular disease research theme at UCLH it is £5.1 million over five years and for the heart research theme at Oxford is £3.1 million over five years.

NHS Numbers

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS numbers are in issuance.

Caroline Flint: National health service numbers are currently issued and controlled by the national health service central register (NHSCR). At close of business on 5 June 2007 the total number of records held by NHSCR on the central health record inquiry system (CHRIS) was 74,581,472. This included a number of deceased patients (9,166,168), and number of invalid records (355,735). The total of NHS numbers 'in issuance1 at that point was therefore 65,059,569.
	The in issuance figure includes a further 7,903,001 numbers where the patient entry contains an exit or cancelled flag. There can be a number of reasons for this, such as where patients are known to have left the country on a permanent basis, armed forces personnel, and unregistered, the majority of which will be of notified births that have not yet been registered with a general practitioner.
	As part of the Department's NHS Connecting for Health Agency's demographics migration programme the personal demographics service (PDS) will replace the following existing NHS demographics services:
	the NHS Central Register (CHRIS);
	demographic functions of the national health applications and infrastructure services (NHAIS);
	the NHS strategic tracing service (NSTS); and
	NHS number for babies (NN4B).
	Moving to the PDS becoming the single authoritative source of demographics will enable the existing national demographic systems to be shutdown, resulting in reduced operational costs.
	The PDS is an essential element of the NHS care records service, underpinning the creation of an electronic care record for every registered NHS patient in England. It will serve as a gateway to the clinical record, enabling authorised healthcare professionals to locate quickly the clinical record that is uniquely associated with each demographic record. Unlike the previous services, this single authoritative source of demographics is already accessible throughout the NHS and is integrated fully with the other applications and services delivered as part of the national programme for information technology. It provides more convenience for patients as they need only notify one authorised healthcare organisation of a change of address, and this change will be then available to all healthcare organisations as and when the patient's records are accessed.
	The demographics migration programme is also endeavouring to eliminate use of NHS temporary, and old-format numbers. These peaked in November 2004 at some 273,578 temporary, and 8,474 old-format numbers. By May 2007 nationally these figures had reduced to some 78,997 temporary, and just 30 old-format numbers. The elimination of use of all temporary and old-format numbers within the NHS is on target to be achieved by spring 2008.

NHS: Complaints

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many complaints were made against the national health service in each year since 1997; and if she will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: The following table gives numbers of written complaints made between April 1997 and the end of March 2006, these are the latest available audited data.
	The data reflect complaints made through the national health service complaints procedure and does not include complaints made to the General Medical Council or other professional bodies.
	
		
			  Hospital and community services and family health services, written complaints in England, 1997-2006 
			   Number of written complaints 
			 1997-98 126,850 
			 1998-99 124,870 
			 1999-2000 126,261 
			 2000-01 140,176 
			 2001-02 133,274 
			 2002-03 133,867 
			 2003-04 133,469 
			 2004-05 133,820 
			 2005-06 138,396

NHS: Drugs

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the proposals contained in her Department's consultation, Arrangements for the remuneration of services relating to appliances within Part IX of the Drug Tariff, would restrict the ability of firms to choose the prices of the services they provide to NHS patients; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: In reviewing Part IX of the Drug Tariff, the Department is trying to ensure is that there is transparency for the national health service between the reimbursement price for items and remuneration for services provided; there is none today. The aim is also to ensure that the NHS, and the taxpayer, is getting value for money—and, most importantly, that patient care is maintained or, where appropriate, improved.
	This is why there have been two recent consultations. One set out proposals for reimbursement levels for item price—"Arrangements for the reimbursement pricing of stoma and incontinence appliances under Part IX of the Drug Tariff".
	The other, "Arrangements for the remuneration of services relating to appliances within Part IX of the Drug Tariff", set our proposals relating to service provision; both what that service should be and the remuneration that the NHS would make for such services. Here the intent was to ensure fair remuneration of valued services provided by the pharmacy and appliance contractors. It was also designed to make sure that the services provided by all dispensing contractors are to the same standard no matter where in England a user of appliances may live.
	The underlying costs of the services they provide is a commercial matter for providers.
	As previously advised, the volume and complexity of the responses to the consultation are such that the Department has decided that it needs more time to analyse the information provided. Consequently, no changes will be implemented in July 2007 as proposed in the consultation documents.

Smoking

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many council officers have been trained to enforce the forthcoming smoking ban, broken down by local authorities; and what the cost has been to both central and local government of implementing this training.

Caroline Flint: The Department has provided a two-phase training programme for local authorities on smokefree legislation and will shortly launch an e-learning facility for local authority officers to complete training at their work place. Training has been provided to develop a standardised approach to the enforcement of the new smokefree law across England, and has been provided free of charge to local authorities.
	The first phase of training was conducted between October to December 2007 for service planners within local authorities to assist the development of local smokefree implementation strategies. Some 450 officers attended this training. The second phase of training is currently being delivered for local authority regulatory officers to provide knowledge, practical skills and competencies so they can build compliance with the new law in their local areas. Some 1,150 places have been made available for local council officers for this training. The two-phase programme of training has been delivered to local councils free of charge by the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) on a regional basis.
	An e-learning facility has also been developed to provide training on the new smokefree law for local council officers. This facility has been developed by the Trading Standards Institute, will be freely available to any local council officer across England who requires training on the new law and will be launched shortly.
	The total cost of developing and providing training on smokefree legislation for the Department is £445,600. An estimate of the costs to local authorities could only be made at disproportionate cost. The Department cannot precisely determine the number of local authority officers who have received training on the new smokefree law— some local authorities have made additional arrangements directly with the CIEH for the delivery of training programmes, many local councils have undertaken in-house training and the smokefree e-learning system is expected to be popular.

Smoking

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures have been taken by  (a) central Government,  (b) local authorities and  (c) NHS trusts to inform the public of the forthcoming smoking ban; and what the (i) planned and (ii) eventual cost was of these measures.

Caroline Flint: Through the Smokefree England campaign, the Department is delivering a major communications campaign to support businesses to be prepared for the implementation of smokefree legislation on 1 July 2007. Recent surveys by the Department show levels of awareness amongst businesses and the general public has improved significantly.
	Information on the new law is available from the freephone Smokefree England information line on 0800 169 169 7 and on the Smokefree England website at:
	www.smokefreeengland.co.uk.
	Presently, the Smokefree England website receives approximately 100,000 visits a week, while the phone line receives 6,000 calls a week.
	The Department has developed a range of guides on the new law. A Smokefree England information pack, including a guide, no-smoking signs and other support materials has been sent to all registered, actively trading businesses in England that employ staff during April. Guidance documents can be downloaded from the Smokefree England website, and are available in a range of different languages and accessible formats, including an MP3 audio version.
	The Department also continues to work closely with a diverse range of organisations across the country to increase awareness of the new legislation among their constituents.
	In May, the Department commenced a national advertising campaign using a range of media to inform members of the public about what the legislation will mean when it comes in to force. While 93 per cent. of the overall population are aware of smokefree legislation, 45 per cent. don't know that it comes into force on 1 July 2007. Therefore the campaign has been developed to assist the public to know when the law will be implemented, where the law will apply and what the penalties are for non-compliance.
	Local authorities are also working to build compliance in their communities through a diverse range of activity. Local businesses are advised to contact their local council for advice and support in implementing smokefree legislation. National health service trusts and local NHS Stop Smoking Services are also working in different ways to promote the new smokefree law.
	The total budget allocated to the Department of the smokefree communications campaign is £8.5 million. The costs to local authorities and NHS trusts of their efforts to promote the new smokefree legislation could be made only at disproportionate cost.

Departments: Property

Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister of State, Ministry of Justice what recent estimate has been made of the value of the Department's property portfolio.

Harriet Harman: The total property portfolio was valued at 31 march 2007 to be £9,728.547 million.

Driving Offences: Bexley

David Evennett: To ask the Minister of State, Ministry of Justice how many people in the London Borough of Bexley have received fixed penalty notices for using a mobile phone whilst driving in each of the last five years.

David Hanson: Data on police action for the offence of use of hand held mobile phone while driving is not collected centrally by local authority area.

Judges: Public Appointments

David Amess: To ask the Minister of State, Ministry of Justice how many  (a) Crown court,  (b) County court,  (c) High court and  (d) Court of Appeal judges have been appointed in each of the last five years; how each was appraised; what criteria is adopted for each appointment; whether consideration is given to a candidate's political views; how many candidates were rejected; and if she will make a statement.

Harriet Harman: The following tables set out the numbers of applicants for, and appointments to, full-time judicial posts (not including magistrates) in the courts system for the five-year period 2001-02 to 2005-06, plus appointments to the fee-paid position of recorder. It is not possible to identify separately appointments to the Crown court and county court as judges on the Circuit Bench and recorders are deployed to either. District judges sit in the county court only. Members of the full-time judiciary are not subject to formal appraisal after appointment.
	In addition to the minimum criteria set out in law for appointment to each level of post, applicants must demonstrate that they have the qualities and abilities needed to successfully take on judicial office, including relevant knowledge and experience, independence, professionalism, judgment and people skills. Information about candidates' political views is neither sought nor taken into account in the selection process. Since April 2006, the independent Judicial Appointments Commission has had the responsibility for appointments and has set out the qualities and abilities it believes are necessary for judicial office. These are: intellectual capacity, personal qualities, the ability to understand and treat fairly, authority and communication skills and efficiency.
	
		
			  Court of Appeal 
			   Appointed 
			 2005-06 4 
			 2004-05 1 
			 2003-04 6 
			 2002-03 2 
			 2001-02 1 
		
	
	
		
			  High Court 
			   Applicants  Appointed 
			 2005-06 129 8 
			 2004-05 128 11 
			 2003-04 174 10 
			 2002-03 57 6 
			 2001-02 — 9 
		
	
	
		
			  Senior Circuit Judge 
			   Applicants  Appointed  Rejected 
			 2005-06 41 5 36 
			 2004-05 39 6 33 
			 2003-04 41 7 34 
			 2002-03 30 4 26 
		
	
	
		
			  Circuit Bench 
			   Applicants  Appointed  Reserve  Rejected 
			 2005-06 248 42 64 142 
			 2004-05 112 6 28 78 
			 2003-04 207 30 65 112 
			 2002-03 (1)— — — — 
			 2001-02 231 20 94 117 
			 (1) No general competition was held in 2002-2003. However, 39 vacancies arose in this period, 38 posts were filled by candidates who were on the circuit bench reserve list established after the 2001-02 competition. 
		
	
	
		
			  District Bench 
			   Applicants  Appointed  Reserve  Rejected 
			 2005-06 24 13 2 9 
			 2004-05 248 26 27 195 
			 2003-04 29 3 2 24 
			 2002-03 241 15 22 204 
			 2001-02 25 2 1 22 
		
	
	
		
			  Recorder 
			   Applicants  Appointed  Reserve  Rejected 
			 2005-06 782 162 192 428 
			 2004-05 683 143 — 540 
			 2003-04 267 20 26 221 
			 2002-03 589 93 83 413 
			 2001-02 540 98 — —